JP5969124B2 - Uplink control channel resource allocation for semi-persistent scheduling of user equipment - Google Patents

Description

  Exemplary and non-limiting embodiments of the present invention generally relate to wireless communication systems, methods, apparatus, and computer programs, and in particular, control channel resource allocation, physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), physical downlink. It relates to control channel (PDCCH), semi-persistent scheduling (SPS), and acknowledgment (ACK) / negative acknowledgment (NACK) (or more simply AN) uplink (UL) resource scheduling.

  This section presents the background or context of the invention as described in the claims. The description herein may include concepts that can be pursued, but this is not necessarily the concept that has been previously conceived, implemented or described. Accordingly, the content described in this section is not prior art to the description and claims in this application, and is not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section, unless specifically indicated herein.

  In 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE), the evolved NodeB (eNB) allocates physical layer resources for the uplink (to UL, eNB) and downlink (from DL, eNB) shared channels. The physical layer resource includes a physical resource block (PRB) and a modulation and coding scheme (MCS). The MCS determines the PRB bit rate and thus the capacity. The assignment can be valid over one or more transmission time intervals (TTIs).

3GPP TS 36.300, V11.0.0 (December 2011) technical specification, 3rd generation partnership project, technical specification group radio access network, evolved universal terrestrial radio access (E-UTRA) and evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (EUTRAN), Overview, Stage 2 (Release 11) 3GPP TS 36.211 V10.4.0 (December 2011) Technical Specification, Third Generation Partnership Project, Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network, Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA), Physical Channel and Modulation (Release 10) 3GPP TS 36.213 V10.4.0 (December 2011) Technical Specification, Third Generation Partnership Project, Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network, Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA), Physical Layer Procedure (Release 10) 3GPP TS 36.331, V10.4.0 (December 2011) Technical Specification, Third Generation Partnership Project, Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network, Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA), Radio Resources Control (RRC), protocol specification (Release 10)

  Using semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) reduces the required control channel signaling and thus the overall signaling overhead. Of course, if all resource assignments to user equipment (UE) are individually signaled, the overhead can be unacceptably large. For example, in a Voice over IP (VoIP) application, sometimes referred to as a VoLTE application, a DL frame may occur every 20 milliseconds. If each downlink frame is signaled individually, it is necessary to significantly increase the bandwidth of the control channel. However, the use of SPS allows the eNB to remain valid until the resource allocation (permanent or semi-permanent) made for the UE is changed. SPS can be used for both UL and DL.

  An exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in its first aspect, determines a semi-persistent scheduling acknowledgment / negative acknowledgment (SPSAN) resource pair, and the SPS AN resource is configured, but the SPS is Setting the sum of the number of inactive user equipment (UE) as a first metric for each member of the set of SPSAN resources; Setting the sum of the number of frames as a second metric for each member of the set of SSAN resources, and a particular SPS AN resource is configured, but some other SPS AN during SPS activation The total number of UEs to which resources are allocated is for each member of the SPSAN resource set. Configuring a third metric for each member of the set of SPSAN resources as a combination of the first metric, the second metric, and the third metric; Selecting N SPSAN resources from the set of SSAN resources so that the UE can be configured for a new SPS configured UE based at least on the value of the fourth metric; Selecting one of the N SPSAN resources based at least on the value of the fourth metric when activated.

  An exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in another aspect thereof, provides an apparatus comprising at least one data processor and at least one memory containing computer program code. At least one memory and computer program code, in conjunction with at least one data processor, causes the device to determine at least a semi-persistent scheduling acknowledgment / negative acknowledgment (SPSAN) resource pair, and the SPSAN resource is configured The total number of user equipments (UEs) that are active but not SPS is configured as the first metric for each member of the set of SPS AN resources, and the SPS AN resource is activated for the UE The sum of the number of subframes made is set as the second metric for each member of the set of SPAN resources, a particular SPS AN resource is set, but some other SPS during SPS activation The total number of UEs that have been allocated AN resources, Set as the third metric for each member of the PS AN resource set and the fourth metric for each member of the SPS AN resource set as a combination of the first metric, second metric and third metric. , And select N SPS AN resources from the set of SPS AN resources so that the UE can be configured for a new SPS configured UE based at least on the value of the fourth metric, When activated for SPS operation, it is configured to cause one of the N SSAN resources to be selected based on at least the value of the fourth metric.

  An exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in yet another aspect thereof, provides a data structure embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium coupled to a resource scheduler of a wireless communication network. This data structure is readable and writable by the resource scheduler and includes a number of rows equal to the number of PUCCH AN resources allocated for the SPS and four columns. (1) PUCCH resource index, (2) Number of subframes where the resource is not available because it is already active for the UE, (3) Resource is configured but SPS is active (4) Number of UEs that have resources configured but are assigned some other SPSAN resource as part of SPS activation, and (5) columns (2), (3 ) And (4) define the combination of values found.

  An exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in yet another aspect thereof, is configured with means for determining a semi-persistent scheduling acknowledgment / negative acknowledgment (SPSAN) resource pair and an SPSAN resource, The sum of the number of user equipments (UEs) for which SPS is not active is set as the first metric for each member of the set of SSAN AN resources, and the SPS AN resource is activated for the UE. The total number of frames is set as a second metric for each member of the set of SPSAN resources, a specific SPS AN resource is set, but any other SPS AN resource is not available during SPS activation. The total number of allocated UEs is taken as the third metric for each member of the SPSAN resource set. And means for forming a fourth metric for each member of the set of SPSAN resources as a combination of the first metric, the second metric, and the third metric, A means for selecting N SPSAN resources from the set of SSAN resources so that the UE can be active for SPS operation so that it can be configured for a new SPS configured UE based at least on the value; And means for selecting one of the N SPSAN resources of the N SPSAN resources based at least on the value of the fourth metric.

  In these embodiments, including data structure embodiments, this data structure is first selected for a user equipment (UE) from a PUCCH AN resource allocated for SPS to a set of N SPSAN AN resources. And the set of N PUCCH resources is selected taking into account the first three metrics indicated by having the smallest value in the fifth (5) column It is. This data structure consists of N PUCCH AN resources selected taking into account the first three metrics indicated by having the smallest value in the fifth (5) column during UE SPS activation. Can be further read by the resource scheduler to determine which of the N PUCCH AN resources should be active.

  In these various embodiments, N can be equal to 4, and the combination of values is a data structure embodiment, such as a weighted sum of the values found in columns (2), (3) and (4). The weighted sum stored in the fifth (5) column.

FIG. 4 shows the overall architecture of an E-UTRAN system according to FIG. 4.1 of 3GPP TS 36.300. FIG. 5.2.1-1 of 3GPP TS 36.211: shows the relationship between SC-FDMA symbols, subcarriers, resource blocks, and resource elements, reproducing the uplink resource grid. FIG. 6.2.2-1 of 3GPP TS 36.211: shows the relationship between OFDM symbols, subcarriers, resource blocks and resource elements, reproducing a downlink resource grid. FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of various electronic devices suitable for use in the implementation of an exemplary embodiment of the invention. It is a figure which shows the example of PUCCH allocation. Formed, updated and used by example embodiments of the present invention, (1) PUCCH resource index, (2) Number of subframes in which PUCCH resource is not available because it is already active for the UE, (3) Number of UEs for which PUCCH resources have been set but SPS is not active, (4) UEs for which resources have been set but some other SPAN resources are allocated as part of SPS activation And (5) one non-limiting example of a table having four columns: (5) a combination such as a weighted sum of values found in columns (2), (3), (4) . The combination metric need not always be a weighted sum. FIG. 6 is a logic flow diagram illustrating method operations and results of execution of computer program instructions embodied on a computer-readable medium, according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

  One modern communication system is what is known as Evolved UTRAN (also called E-UTRAN, UTRAN-LTE or E-UTRA). In this system, the DL access technology is OFDMA and the UL access technology is SC-FDMA.

  One relevant specification includes 3GPP TS 36.300, V11.0.0 (December 2011) technical specification, 3rd generation partnership project, technical specification group radio access network, evolved universal terrestrial There are Radio Access (E-UTRA) and Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (EUTRAN), full overview, Stage 2 (Release 11), hereinafter referred to briefly as 3GPP TS 36.300.

  FIG. 1A is based on FIG. 4.1 of 3GPP TS 36.300 and shows the overall architecture of the E-UTRAN system. The E-UTRAN system includes a network access node or eNB that provides E-UTRAN user plane and control plane (Radio Resource Control (RRC)) protocol termination towards the UE. The eNBs are interconnected by an X2 interface. The eNB is also connected to the evolved packet core (EPC) via the S1 interface, and more specifically, connected to the mobility management entity (MME) and the serving gateway (S-GW) via the S1 MME interface. The S1 interface supports a many-to-many relationship between MME, S-GW and eNB.

  3GPP TS 36.211 V10.4.0 (December 2011) Technical Specification, Third Generation Partnership Project, Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network, Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA), Physical Channel and Modulation (Release 10) defines uplink and downlink frames (with a duration of 10 msec). FIG. 1B is a reproduction of 3GPP TS 36.211 Figure 5.2.1-1: Uplink resource grid, showing the relationship of SC-FDMA symbols, subcarriers, resource blocks and resource elements. FIG. 1C is a reproduction of FIG. 6.2.2-1: Downlink Resource Grid of 3GPP TS 36.211, showing the relationship between OFDM symbols, subcarriers, resource blocks and resource elements.

  This specification is also relevant to further releases of 3GPP LTE with a view to future IMT-A systems, and for convenience, this specification is briefly referred to herein as Long Term Evolution (LTE) -Advanced (LTE-A ). The goal of LTE-A is to provide services that are significantly enhanced by higher data rates and shorter latencies at a lower cost while maintaining backward compatibility with previous LTE releases.

3GPP TS 36.213 V10.4.0 (December 2011) Technical Specification, Third Generation Partnership Project, Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network, Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA), Physical Layer Procedure Section 7.3 of (Release 10) specifies the UE procedure for reporting HARQ-ACK. Also relevant is the validation of PDCCH for semi-persistent scheduling in Section 9.2. As described in Section 9.2, the UE shall only accept the validity of the semi-persistent scheduling assignment PDCCH if all of the following conditions are met:
-The CRC parity bits obtained for the PDCCH payload are scrambled with semi-persistent scheduling C-RNTI.
-The new data indicator field is set to "0". For DCI formats 2, 2A, 2B, and 2C, this new data indicator field indicates a data indicator field for an available transport block.

  If all fields of each used DCI format are set according to table 92-1 or table 92-1A, the validity is confirmed.

  If validated, in response, the UE considers the received DCI information as a valid semi-permanent activation or release.

  If the validity is not confirmed, the UE considers the received DCI format as received with a CRC mismatch.

Table 9.2-1: Special field for validation of semi-persistent scheduling activation PDCCH

Table 92-1A: Special field for PDCCH validation for semi-persistent scheduling release

  If the DCI format indicates semi-persistent downlink scheduling activation, the TPC command for the PUCCH field is used as one index of the four PUCCH resource values set by the upper layer, and this mapping is shown in Table 9.2. Determined in 2.

Table 92-2: PUCCH resource values for downlink semi-persistent scheduling

  This specification includes 3GPP TS 36.331, V10.4.0 (December 2011) technical specification, third generation partnership project, technical specification group radio access network, evolved universal terrestrial radio access (E- UTRA), Radio Resource Control (RRC), and Protocol Specification (Release 10) are also relevant. In this document, an SPS setting information element (IE) is defined.

  When using dynamic scheduling, the UE determines the PUCCH AN resource using the first control channel element (CCE) of the DL PDCCH message. However, there is no DL PDCCH message in SPS, so the UE is assigned a quasi-static PUCCH resource. In practice, the RRC layer configures four PUCCH resources as part of the SPS-config N1-PUCCH-AN-PersistentList. At the time of SPS activation using the PDCCH, one of the set four resources is selected and transmitted to the UE as a part of the transmission power control (TPC) bit in the DL PDCCH allocation message. The TPC bit is overloaded with functionality for this PDCCH activation message. The broadcast parameter n1PUCCH-AN indicates the starting point of the dynamic AN resource. Since the SPS AN resource occurs to the left of this value, the n1PUCCH-AN configuration should take this into account.

  As described in detail below, aspects of embodiments of the present invention set how to set the value of the SPS-config N1-PUCCH-AN-PersistentList and the value of the TPC bit in the PDCCH SPS activation message. The probability of not having any configured PUCCH resources available in the subframe that configures the SPS is minimized, and the total number of PUCCH resources reserved for the SPSAN is minimized, This is addressed and addressed to maximize the flexibility with respect to making SPS configurable in every subframe.

  Before describing the exemplary embodiment of the present invention in further detail, refer to FIG. 2, which shows a simplified block diagram of various electronic devices and devices suitable for use in the implementation of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. To do. In FIG. 2, the radio network 1 is connected to a mobile communication device or a device such as a node, which can be called UE 10, via a radio link 11 via a Node B (base station), more specifically a network access node such as eNB 12. It comes to communicate. The network 1 can include a network control element (NCE) 14 that can include the MME / S-GW functionality shown in FIG. 1A, which can be a telephone network and / or a data communication network (eg, the Internet), etc. Provides connectivity to additional networks.

  The UE 10 includes at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium embodied as a memory (MEM) 10B that stores at least one computer or controller such as a data processor (DP) 10A and a computer instruction program (PROG) 10C. And at least one suitable radio frequency (RF) transmitter and receiver pair (transceiver) 10D for two-way wireless communication with the eNB 12 via one or more antennas.

  The eNB 12 also includes at least one controller, such as a computer or data processor (DP) 12A, and at least one computer-readable storage medium embodied as a memory (MEM) 12B that stores a computer instruction program (PROG) 12C. It typically includes at least one suitable RF transceiver 12D for communicating with the UE 10 via one or more antennas (when using multiple input / multiple output (MIMO) operation). eNB 12 is coupled to NCE 14 via data / control path 13. The path 13 can be implemented as the S1 interface shown in FIG. 1A. The eNB 12 can also be coupled to another eNB via a data / control path 15 that can be implemented as the X2 interface shown in FIG. 1A.

  In the description of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, it can be assumed that the UE 10 also includes a HARQ AN reporting function 10E operable with SPS PUCCH resource signaling from the eNB 12. The eNB 12 may include a resource scheduler (RS) 12E that works with the table 12F, as shown in FIG. 4 (first non-limiting embodiment) and described in detail below. Table 12F can be stored in memory 12B and can be considered to represent a data structure stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium. The embodiment of table F12 of FIG. 4 can be considered a presently preferred embodiment. In another embodiment (not shown), a table including four columns can be used, such as by setting the weight of the fourth column in FIG. 4 to zero. Therefore, it should be clarified that the present invention is not limited to use with only one collection and arrangement of data. Further, as an example, in the table 12F, columns can be arranged in an order different from the order shown.

  It can be assumed that at least the program 12C includes program instructions that, when executed by the associated data processor 12A, allow the apparatus to operate in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, as will be described in further detail below. In general, embodiments of the present invention are implemented, at least in part, by computer software that can be executed by DP 10A of UE 10 and / or DP 12A of eNB 12, or by hardware, or a combination of software and hardware (and firmware). Can do.

  The various data processors, memories, programs, transceivers, and interfaces shown in FIG. 2 are all representative of means for performing the operations and functions that implement some non-limiting aspects and embodiments of the invention. Can be considered.

  In general, various embodiments of UE 10 include, but are not limited to, cellular mobile devices, smartphones, personal digital assistants (PDAs) with wireless communication capabilities, portable computers with wireless communication capabilities, and wireless communication capabilities. Built-in image capturing device such as a digital camera having wireless communication, game machine having wireless communication capability, music storage / playback device having wireless communication capability, Internet device enabling wireless Internet access and browsing, and a combination of such functions A portable device or terminal can be included.

  The computer readable memories 10B and 12B can be of any type suitable for a local technical environment, and include a semiconductor storage device, a random access memory, a read only memory, a programmable read only memory memory, a flash memory, and a magnetic storage device. And can be implemented using any suitable data storage technology, such as systems, optical storage devices and systems, fixed memory and removable memory. Data processors 10A and 12A may be of any type suitable for a local technical environment, including, but not limited to, general purpose computers, special purpose computers, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs), and multi-core processor architectures. One or more of the based processors may be included.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of PUCCH allocation. PUCCH is for periodic channel quality indicator (CQI) reports, periodic scheduling request indication (SRI), hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) ACK / NACK for dynamic scheduling, and semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) Used for HARQ ACK / NACK. Clearly, there is a need to best manage how PUCCH resources are allocated to HARQ ACK / NACK for SPS.

  Hereinafter, setting of n1PUCCH-AN (ACK / NACK) according to an aspect of the present invention will be described.

The exact number of resources required for the SPSAN may vary from subframe to subframe and over time. SPS AN resources can be matched to peak VoLTE (voice over LTE) load. For example, if it is expected to support up to 400 UEs, assume that the average number of SPS UEs per subframe can be 400 UEs / 20 subframes = 20. To take into account some variation (unbalanced number of SPS UEs per subframe), an adjustable parameter such as DB:% PucchHeadroomForSps can be added. Accordingly, the PUCCH can be provided as follows.
(1 +% PucchHeadroomForSps / 100) * (Number of supported UEs / 20) SPSAN resource per subframe

  In general, SPS imposes additional load on PUCCH because PUCCH resources need to be matched to the worst case scenario for both SPS and dynamic scheduling.

  Hereinafter, the setting of N1-PUCCH-AN-PersistentList according to an aspect of the present invention will be further described.

  If the RRC layer sets this parameter, the exact subframe in which SPS is activated for a given UE 10 is unknown, if it exists. As a result, RRC sets four different resource values. If none of the four configured PUCCH resource values is available, SPS cannot be activated on a given subframe, and therefore select the four values configured by this RRC layer. Is wise. It is clear that a PUCCH resource should not be configured if a given PUCCH resource is used in all 20 subframe offsets. In general, the more subframes that can still use the PUCCH resource, the better the resource. Further, although this PUCCH resource is set, the smaller the number of UEs 10 for which SPS activation has not yet been performed, the better the resource.

  The following algorithm is derived from these observations.

A table 12F as shown in FIG. 4 is formed (as described above, the table 12F can be regarded as a data structure stored in the memory 12B of the eNB 12). Table 12F has a number of rows equal to the number of PUCCH AN resources allocated to the SPS and five columns, which define:
(1) PUCCH resource index.
(2) The number of subframes where resources are not available because they are already activated for the UE within the subframe.
(3) Number of UEs for which resources are set but SPS is not active.
(4) Number of UEs for which SPS is active using different SPS AN resources, although resources are configured.
(5) A weighted sum of columns (2), (3) and (4), or more generally some combination of the values found in columns (2), (3) and (4). In the fifth column, the weights (if used) applied to the columns (2), (3), and (4) are indicated by w1, w2, and w3, respectively.

  These weights may be different or the same in each column. These weights may be fixed or variable. A special case is indicated when the three weights w1, w2 and w3 are all set equal to 1, where the weighted sum in the fifth column is the total number of UEs for which the associated SPSAN resource is set. Show.

The algorithm tracks the following for each potential PUCCH resource that can be used as an SPSAN resource.
Number of subframes (#) that cannot use PUCCH resources because they are already activated for the UE in the subframe.
Number of UEs (#) for which PUCCH resources are set but SPS is not yet active.
The number (#) of UEs for which PUCCH resources have been set but SPS is active using different SPAN resources.

  Only PUCCH resources that can be used with at least one subframe offset appear in the table 12F.

  A combination such as a weighted sum of the three metrics in columns (2), (3) and (4) is used as a metric to determine which resources should be set for the new SPS UE 10. The four entries configured for the new SPS UE 10 are the four PUCCH resources from the table 12F with the smallest value of the weighted sum metric or any other metric combination in column (5).

  It should be noted that for the table 12F of FIG. 4, other procedures can be used that appropriately combine the three individual metrics in columns (2), (3), and (4). As two non-limiting examples, the product of these three metrics can be used, or a weighted sum or product of three metrics with different powers can be used.

  After the various entries in the table 12F of FIG. 4 are set and formed, the table 12F needs to be updated during operation. For example, when a PUCCH resource is set for a new UE 10, the third column (UE number) is incremented by 1 for the corresponding resource. When the SPS assignment for UE 10 becomes active, the value in the third column is decremented by 1 for the four PUCCH resources, and the value in column 2 is incremented by 1 for the activated PUCCH resource. For three of the four PUCCH resources not assigned as part of the SPS activation, the value in column 4 is also incremented by one. If the SPS assignment for UE 10 becomes inactive but has not yet been unconfigured, the corresponding entry in the second column is decremented by 1, but for this entry and the other three configured resources Entries are each incremented by 1 in the third column. For three of the four PUCCH resources that were not assigned as part of SPS activation, the value in column 4 is also decremented by one. If the SPS assignment for UE 10 is deconfigured (assuming that the SPS is currently inactive), the value in column 3 is reduced by 1 for each of the four PUCCH resources assigned for a particular UE 10. Be divided.

  However, other variations are possible, and the metric can be extended to take into account the following two exemplary matters.

  (A) Each subsequent PUCCH resource can be selected to maximize (consider) the number of subframes in which some of the configured available resources exist. For example, the second resource may attempt to maximize the number of subframes in which the second resource is available in subframes in which the first resource is not available.

  (B) A smaller window of the subframe where the metric is maximized (as opposed to the whole 20 ms) can be considered. In fact, the smaller window of this subframe can approach the actual arrival of VoIP (VoLTE) packets in time (after taking into account any jitter).

  Of the four PUCCH resources configured using the RRC layer, if more than one of the four PUCCH resources is free in a given subframe during SPS activation, which of the four PUCCH resources is active The problem is whether or not it should be. According to the logic described above, among the PUCCH resources that can be used for this subframe, the PUCCH resource having the smallest value of the weighted sum metric or any other combination of metrics can be activated.

  Embodiments of the present invention, in one aspect thereof, allow for the setting of the number of SSAN resources based on the expected number of VoIP UEs 10, due to the fact that network operators cannot use SSAN resources. Provides configurable parameters to make a trade-off between blocking UE 10 and increasing PUCCH overhead. This can be based at least in part on an estimate of the number of SPS UEs 10 that may be activated in a given subframe.

  Embodiments of the present invention, in another aspect thereof, determine the SPS AN resource for a given UE 10, the number of UEs already configured in this SPS AN resource, and the SPS active on this SPS AN resource. The probability of being blocked based on the number of configured UEs 10 can be set to be minimized. Further consideration may include the ability to maximize the number of subframes that are free of at least some SPSAN resources.

  When the SPS becomes active, the probability that subsequent UEs will be blocked is advantageously reduced by activating the SPSAN resources configured for the minimum number of UEs 10.

Advantages, advantages and technical effects enabled by the use of these exemplary embodiments can include at least the following.
a) The probability of not having previously configured PUCCH SPS resources available in a subframe in which SPS is configured for a particular UE 10 is minimized.
b) The total number of PUCCH resources reserved for SPSAN can be minimized.
c) Maximum flexibility is provided with respect to allowing SPS to be set in every subframe.

  The embodiment of the present invention considers the number of subframes in which a PUCCH SPS resource can be used and the number of UEs 10 for which a specific resource is already set when determining resources to be set for a new UE 10. . Embodiments of the present invention provide complete flexibility to configure SPS resources for all new UEs, or only for UEs with VoLTE bearer setup, etc. at any point in time or only upon SPS activation .

  The exemplary embodiment provides in one aspect thereof a method for determining the number of SPS PUCCH AN resources to reserve. This method performs an initial estimation based on the assumption that the SPS UE load is evenly distributed across all subframes, and allows additional headroom to account for any unequal load across subframes. Steps. This method further determines a set of N SPS AN resources to be configured for a new SPS configured UE, for a UE with a given resource configured but no SPS active. Setting the total number as the first metric, setting the total number of subframes for which the given resource is active for the UE as the second metric, and the given resource: Configure as a third metric the total number of UEs that have SPS active by assigning different AN resources (from the four PUCCH AN resources configured for the UE) Forming a fourth metric as a combination of the first, second and third metrics, and N SPs Selecting a SAN resource having the smallest value of the fourth metric.

  Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate at least in part to PUCCH resource allocation for SPSAN transmission. According to an exemplary embodiment, PUCCH AN resource allocation for DL SPS UE is performed in two steps. In the first step, the RRC determines four resource indexes (PRB index, cyclic shift in PRB and orthogonal cover but not subframe offset) information element (IE) SPS- Set as part of Config. In 3GPP TS 36.311, a specific RRC parameter for performing this setting is referred to as N1-PUCCH-AN-PersistentList. In the second step, when the scheduler activates the DL SPS by sending a PDCCH activation message containing a field set according to section 9.2 of 3GPP TS 36.213 (reproduced above), The eNB scheduler 12E selects one of the set four SPS resources and transmits it to the UE 10. The two bits that carry this information are TPC bits that are not used for power control in the SPS activation message.

  The scheduler 12E maintains a separate resource pool for SPSAN. The number of PUCCH AN resources for SPS UEs corresponds to the selected value of RRC parameter ΔPUCCH-Shift per subframe (1 +% PucchHeadroomForSps / 100) * (Number of supported UEs / 20) Provided, the denominator factor 20 is due to the 20 ms allocation period of the SPS. The parameter% PucchHeadroomForSps is headroom based on the average number of active semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) UEs 10 per subframe at full load, assuming that all connected UEs 10 are SPS UEs. The scaled number is the number of PUCCH AN resources reserved for SPS UEs in each subframe.

  Again, when the scheduler 12E is requested by the L3 control block to configure SSAN resources for a new SPS UE, the four resources configured for the least number of existing SPS UEs 10 Select and communicate. Note that not all resource indexes can be allocated, that is, only resources that conform to DB: ΔPucchShift can be allocated. When four resources are configured, the total number of UEs 10 using these four resources should be incremented by one. Similarly, if a UE 10 configured with an SPS resource leaves the cell or moves to RRC_IDLE, or if the SPS resource is deconfigured, it was configured for a specific SPS AN resource or becomes active. The total number of UEs that had been updated should be updated (decremented by one) accordingly.

  At the time of DL SPS activation, if none of the four configured resources are available in a subframe, the SPS cannot be activated for this UE 10 in this subframe. If more than one of the configured resources is available within this subframe, the scheduler 12E can activate the SPS resource that is configured for the fewest number of UEs.

  Based on the above, the exemplary embodiment of the present invention reduces the probability of not having any configured PUCCH resources available in a subframe configured with SPS, and reserves for SPSAN. Method, apparatus for enhancing the operation of SPS UEs in a wireless network by reducing the total number of PUCCH resources used and providing maximum flexibility with respect to allowing SPS to be configured in every subframe And it should be clear to provide computer program (s).

  When the exemplary embodiment determines the PUCCH AN resource to be configured for a new SPS UE, the number of subframes in which the specific PUCCH AN resource is available, the specific PUCCH AN resource is already configured. The number of UEs that are active but SPS is not active, and certain PUCCH AN resources are configured, but any other PUCCH AN resources (four PUCCHs configured for the UE) during SPS activation Consider the number of UEs assigned (from AN resources). Embodiments of the present invention provide complete flexibility to configure SPS resources for all new UEs, or only for UEs with VoLTE bearer setup, etc. at any point in time or only during SPS activation.

  FIG. 5 is a logic flow diagram illustrating the operation of the method and the execution results of the computer program instructions according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. According to these exemplary embodiments, the method performs the step of determining a semi-persistent scheduling acknowledgment / negative acknowledgment (SPSAN) resource set at block 5A. In block 5B, performing the step of setting the sum of the number of user equipments (UEs) for which SPS AN resources are configured but SPS is not active as the first metric for each member of the set of SPS AN resources. . In block 5C, perform the step of setting the sum of the number of subframes in which the SPSAN resource is active for the UE as a second metric for each member of the set of SPSAN resources. In block 5D, the specific metric for each member of the SPSAN resource set is the sum of the number of UEs for which a particular SPS AN resource has been configured, but was assigned some other SPS AN resource during SPS activation. Step to set as. In block 5E, performing a step of forming a fourth metric for each member of the set of SPSAN resources as a combination of the first metric, the second metric, and the third metric. In block 5F, performing a step of selecting N SPSAN resources from the set of SPS AN resources so that they can be configured for a new SPS configured UE based on at least the value of the fourth metric. In block 5G, when the UE becomes active for SPS operation, perform one step of selecting one of the N SPSAN resources of the N SPSAN resources based at least on the value of the fourth metric.

  In the method shown in FIG. 5, N is equal to 4.

  In the method shown in FIG. 5, the step of forming the fourth metric as a combination of the first, second, and third metrics forms a weighted sum of the first metric, the second metric, and the third metric. Includes steps.

  In the method shown in FIG. 5, the step of selecting one of the N SPSAN resources based on at least the value of the fourth metric includes the step of selecting the fourth metric value of the N SPSAN resources. Choose the smallest one.

  The method shown in FIG. 5 further includes determining a set of SPS AN resources such that the number of subframes in which SPS can be activated is maximized.

  The method shown in FIG. 5 determines which of the N SPSAN resources to activate based on a data structure having multiple entries corresponding to multiple SPSAN resources during SPS activation for the UE. And further including a step of determining, wherein each entry further includes a first metric, a second metric, a third metric, and a fourth metric associated with the corresponding SPSAN resource and should be active for the UE Are determined in consideration of the first metric, the second metric, and the third metric indicated by having the smallest fourth metric value among the N resources. It is a thing.

  In the method shown in FIG. 5, as described in the previous paragraph, the step of selecting N SPSAN resources from the set of SPS AN resources is performed based on the data structure, and N selected for the UE. The SPS AN resource is based on considering a first metric, a second metric, and a third metric that are indicated by having the value of the smallest fourth metric.

  The method shown in FIG. 5 performs an estimation based on the assumption that the SPS UE load is evenly distributed across all subframes so that additional headroom can account for any unequal load across subframes. This includes a preliminary step of determining the number of SPSAN resources to be reserved within a set of physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) resources.

  In the method shown in FIG. 5, the SPSAN resource is a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) resource.

  The method shown in FIG. 5 is at least partially performed by a resource scheduler function located in the evolved NodeB.

  The various blocks shown in FIG. 5 are regarded as a plurality of coupled logic elements configured to perform method steps and / or operations caused by the operation of computer program code and / or related function (s). be able to.

  In general, the various exemplary embodiments may be implemented in hardware or dedicated circuitry, software, logic, or any combination thereof. For example, some aspects may be implemented in the form of hardware, while others may be implemented in the form of firmware or software that can be executed by a controller, microprocessor, or other computer device, but the invention is not limited thereto. Absent. While various aspects of exemplary embodiments of the invention may be illustrated and described using block diagrams, flow diagrams, or some other graphical description, these blocks described herein, The device, system, technique or method is, in a non-limiting example, in the form of hardware, software, firmware, dedicated circuitry or logic circuitry, general purpose hardware or controller or other computing device, or some combination thereof. Please fully understand that it can be implemented.

  Thus, at least some aspects of the exemplary embodiments of the invention may be implemented in various components such as integrated circuit chips and modules, and the exemplary embodiments of the invention may be integrated circuits. It should be understood that it can also be implemented in a device embodied as: The one or more integrated circuits are one of one or more data processors, one or more digital signal processors, baseband circuits, and radio frequency circuits that can be configured to operate in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention. Or a circuit (in some cases firmware) may be included to embody it.

  Various modifications and adaptations to the above-described exemplary embodiments of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the above description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the scope of the non-limiting and exemplary embodiments of the present invention still includes any modifications.

  For example, while the above describes an exemplary embodiment in the context of an E-UTRAN (LTA-A) system, the exemplary embodiment of the present invention is only for this one particular type of wireless communication system. It should be understood that the exemplary embodiments of the present invention can be used to provide advantages in other wireless communication systems.

  It should be noted that the terms “connected”, “coupled”, or any variation thereof, means any direct or indirect connection or coupling between two or more elements. , May include the presence of one or more intermediate elements between two elements “connected” or “coupled” to each other. The coupling or connection between the elements may be physical, logical, or a combination thereof. As used herein, the two elements are radio frequency by using one or more wires, cables and / or printed electrical connections, and as some non-limiting and non-inclusive examples By using electromagnetic energy, such as electromagnetic energy having a wavelength in the region, microwave region, and light (both visible and invisible) region, it can be considered to be “connected” or “coupled” to each other.

  Further, the parameters described (eg, “number of subframes ...” “number of UEs ...” “weighted sums ...” “% PucchHeadroomForSps” etc.) can be identified by any suitable name, so these parameters The names used for are not limiting in any way. Further, mathematical formulas and the like using these various parameters may differ from those explicitly disclosed herein. In addition, various channels (eg, PUCCH, PDCCH, etc.) and information elements (eg, SPS-Config, TPC, etc.) can be identified by any suitable name, so the various assigned to these various channels and information elements. The name is not limiting in any way. Furthermore, as described above, the exact form and information content of the table used by the resource scheduler 12E may differ from that shown in FIG. 4 and should be considered as exemplary only.

  Furthermore, some of the features of the various non-limiting exemplary embodiments of the present invention can be used to provide advantages without correspondingly using other features. Accordingly, the foregoing description is merely illustrative of the principles, teachings, and exemplary embodiments of the invention and should not be taken as limiting.

5A Determines semi-persistent scheduling acknowledgment / negative acknowledgment (SPSAN) resource pair 5B SPS AN resource is set, but the total number of user equipments (UEs) for which SPS is not active is calculated as SPS AN Set as the first metric for each member of the resource set, the sum of the number of subframes in which the SPSAN resource is activated for the 5C UE, and the second for each member of the SPSAN resource set Set as Metric 5D A specific SPS AN resource is configured, but the total number of UEs that were assigned some other SPS AN resource during SPS activation is the number of each SPS AN resource set for each member. Set as 3 metric 5E 1st metric, 2nd metric and 3rd metric Forming a fourth metric for each member of the set of SPSAN resources as a combination of SPS 5F, so that the SPS can be configured for the new SPS configured UE based at least on the value of the fourth metric Select N SPS AN resources from a set of AN resources When the 5G UE becomes active for SPS operation, N SPS ANs of the N SPS AN resources based at least on the value of the fourth metric Select one of the resources

Claims (31)

Determining a semi-persistent scheduling acknowledgment / negative acknowledgment (SPSAN) resource pair;
Setting the sum of the number of user equipments (UEs) for which the SPS AN resource is configured but SPS is not active as a first metric for each member of the set of SPS AN resources; ,
Setting the total number of subframes in which the SPS AN resource is activated for the UE as a second metric for each member of the set of SPS AN resources;
Although the particular SPS AN resource is configured, the total number of UEs that were assigned some other SPAN resource during SPS activation is the third number for each member of the SSAN resource set. Set it as a metric,
Forming a fourth metric for each member of the set of SPSAN resources as a combination of the first metric, the second metric, and the third metric;
Selecting N SPSAN resources from the set of SPSAN resources so that they can be configured for a new SPS configured UE based at least on the value of the fourth metric;
When the UE becomes active for SPS operation, select one of the N SPSAN resources of the N SPSAN resources based at least on the value of the fourth metric Steps,
A method comprising the steps of: N is equal to 4,
The method according to claim 1. Forming the fourth metric as the combination of the first, second, and third metrics includes forming a weighted sum of the first metric, the second metric, and the third metric. including,
The method according to claim 1. The step of selecting one of the N SPSAN resources based on at least the value of the fourth metric comprises the smallest value of the fourth metric among the N SPSAN resources. Choose one,
The method according to claim 1. N SPSAN resources from the set of SPS AN resources to be configured for the UE so that the maximum number of subframes in which SPS can be activated for a new SPS configured UE is maximized. Further comprising the step of determining
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: Determining, during SPS activation for the UE, which of the N SPSAN resources to activate based on a data structure having a plurality of entries corresponding to a plurality of SPSAN resources; Each entry further includes the first metric, the second metric, the third metric, and the fourth metric associated with a corresponding SPSAN resource and should be active for the UE Resources determined to be the first metric, the second metric, and the third metric indicated by having the smallest value of the fourth metric out of the N resources. Selected in consideration of the
6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: Selecting the N SPSAN resources from the set of SPS AN resources is performed based on the data structure, and the N SPSAN resources selected for the UE include the fourth metric Based on considering the first metric, the second metric and the third metric indicated by having the smallest value of
The method according to claim 6. Physical uplink control by making an estimate based on the assumption that the SPS UE load is evenly distributed across all subframes and allowing additional headroom to account for any unequal load across subframes Including a preliminary step of determining the number of SPSAN resources to be reserved in a set of channel (PUCCH) resources;
The method according to claim 1. The SPS AN resource is a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) resource,
A method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that Performed at least in part by a resource scheduler function located in the evolved NodeB,
10. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that 11. A non-transitory computer readable medium containing software program instructions, comprising executing the method according to any of claims 1 to 10 by the software program instructions being executed by at least one data processor. Action is performed,
A computer-readable storage medium. At least one data processor;
At least one memory containing computer program code;
And wherein the at least one memory and computer program code is coupled to the at least one data processor to at least a semi-persistent scheduling acknowledgment / negative acknowledgment (SPSAN) resource set. And the sum of the number of user equipments (UEs) for which the SPS AN resource is configured but the SPS is not active as a first metric for each member of the set of SPS AN resources Set the total number of subframes in which the SPS AN resource is activated for the UE as a second metric for each member of the set of SPS AN resources, and the specific SPS AN resource Is set, but some other SP during SPS activation Let the total number of UEs assigned AN resources be set as a third metric for each member of the set of SPS AN resources, the first metric, the second metric and the third metric To form a fourth metric for each member of the set of SSAN resources, and to configure for a new SPS configured UE based at least on the value of the fourth metric Selecting N SPS AN resources from the set of SPS AN resources, and when the UE becomes active for SPS operation, the N SPSs based at least on the value of the fourth metric Configured to select one of the N SPS AN resources of the AN resource;
A device characterized by that. N is equal to 4,
The apparatus according to claim 12. The at least one memory and computer program code in conjunction with the at least one data processor forming a weighted sum of the first metric, the second metric, and the third metric; Configured to form the fourth metric as the combination of first, second and third metrics;
The apparatus according to claim 12. The at least one memory and computer program code, in conjunction with the at least one data processor, select the N SPSAN resources with the smallest value of the fourth metric, thereby enabling the fourth metric. Further configured to select the N SPSAN resources based at least on the value of
The apparatus according to claim 12. The at least one memory and computer program code, in conjunction with the at least one data processor, maximizes the number of subframes that can activate SPS for a new SPS configured UE. Further configured to determine N SPSAN resources from the set of SPSAN resources so that they can be configured for the UE;
An apparatus according to any one of claims 12 to 15, characterized in that The at least one memory and computer program code are stored in the memory having a plurality of entries corresponding to a plurality of SPSAN resources during SPS activation for the UE in conjunction with the at least one data processor. Further configured to determine which of the N SPS AN resources to activate based on the data structure, wherein each entry includes the first metric associated with the corresponding SPS AN resource, the A resource further comprising a second metric, the third metric, and the fourth metric, and determined to be active for the UE, is the fourth of the N resources The first metric indicated by having the smallest value of the metric Click, those that are selected in consideration of the second metric, and the third metric,
A device according to any one of claims 12 to 16, characterized in that The at least one memory and computer program code is associated with the at least one data processor from the set of SPSAN resources based on the data structure having the plurality of entries corresponding to the plurality of SPSAN resources. Further configured to select the N SPSAN resources, the N SPSAN resources selected for the UE are indicated by having the smallest value of the fourth metric. Based on considering one metric, the second metric and the third metric,
The apparatus of claim 17. The at least one memory and computer program code, in conjunction with the at least one data processor, performs an estimation based on the assumption that the load of the SPS UE is evenly distributed across all subframes, and additional headroom Is further configured to initially determine the number of SPSAN resources to reserve within a set of physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) resources by allowing for any unequal load across subframes ,
The apparatus according to claim 12. The SPS AN resource is a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) resource,
19. A device according to any one of claims 12 to 18, characterized in that Embodied at least in part by a resource scheduler function located in the evolved NodeB,
21. Apparatus according to any one of claims 12 to 20, characterized in that Means for determining a semi-persistent scheduling acknowledgment / negative acknowledgment (SPSAN) resource pair;
Setting the sum of the number of user equipments (UEs) for which the SPS AN resource is configured but SPS is not active as a first metric for each member of the set of SPS AN resources; The total number of subframes in which the SPS AN resource is activated for the UE is set as a second metric for each member of the set of SPS AN resources, and the particular SPS AN resource is set But the total number of UEs that were allocated some other SPS AN resource during SPS activation is set as a third metric for each member of the set of SPS AN resources, and the first metric , The set of SPSAN resources as a combination of the second metric and the third metric It means for forming a fourth metric for each member,
Means for selecting N SPSAN resources from the set of SPSAN resources so that they can be configured for a new SPS configured UE based at least on the value of the fourth metric;
When the UE becomes active for SPS operation, select one of the N SPSAN resources of the N SPSAN resources based at least on the value of the fourth metric Means for
A device comprising: N is equal to 4,
The apparatus of claim 22 . The means for forming the fourth metric as a combination of the first, second, and third metrics forms a weighted sum of the first metric, the second metric, and the third metric Including
The apparatus of claim 22 . The means for selecting one of the N SPSAN resources based at least on the value of the fourth metric comprises the value of the fourth metric of the N SPSAN resources. Choose the smallest one,
The apparatus of claim 22 . Means for selecting N SPSAN resources from the set of SPS AN resources so that it can be configured for a new SPS configured UE is a sub-subordinate capable of activating SPS for the UE. Works to maximize the number of frames,
26. A device according to any one of claims 22 to 25 . The means for selecting which of the N SPSAN ANs to activate during SPS activation for the UE is a data structure having a plurality of entries corresponding to a plurality of SSAN AN resources Each entry further includes the first metric, the second metric, the third metric, and the fourth metric associated with a corresponding SPSAN resource, and active for the UE Resources determined to be the first metric, the second metric, and the third metric indicated by having the smallest value of the fourth metric out of the N resources Selected in consideration of the metric,
27. Apparatus according to any one of claims 22 to 26 , characterized in that The means for selecting the N SPSAN resources from the set of SPS AN resources also operates with the data structure, and the N SPSAN resources selected for the UE are the fourth Based on considering the first metric, the second metric and the third metric indicated by having the smallest value of
28. The apparatus of claim 27 . The means for determining performs an estimation based on the assumption that the load of the SPS UE is evenly distributed across all subframes, so that additional headroom can account for any unequal load across subframes. Configured to determine the number of SPSAN resources to be reserved in a set of physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) resources,
The apparatus of claim 22 . The SPS AN resource is a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) resource,
29. Apparatus according to any one of claims 22 to 28 , characterized in that Embodied at least in part by a resource scheduler unit that forms part of an evolved NodeB,
31. Apparatus according to any one of claims 22 to 30 , characterized in that